PETERSTOWN (RNS)"Famous Health Seekers at Old
Sweet Springs" was the subject Mrs. Harry Gentry used for the program of the
Peter's Mountain Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution.

She said Sweet Springs is the oldest, most permanent and most
interesting of the watering places in Monroe County. Following the American
Revolution, William Lewis began to develop Sweet Springs as a health resort. It
originally was designed to be the home of the cir­cuit court and a
courthouse and jail were built in 1795. The court was re­moved and Old Sweet
Springs became a well known summer resort. The waters of the mineral springs
were recognized as healing to digestive complaints and debility, Mrs. Gentry
said.

George Washington, Franklin Pierce and Millard Filmore were guests at
the springs. Henry A. Wise was a frequent visitor and it is said to be the spot
where Jerome Bonaparte wooed and won Eli­zabeth Patterson, the American wife
whom his despotic brother forced him to put away. In 1945 it was sold and
be­came the Andrew S. Rowan Home for the elderly, Mrs. Gentrv
said.

Mrs. Gentry was introduced by Re­gent Mrs. James White who opened
the meeting with the DAR ritual, assisted by Mrs. Katherine Carr,
chaplain.

The
president general's message gi­ven by Mrs. Oscar Spangler related that
February is American History Month and was first adopted in 1952 through the
efforts of the daughters of Ken­tucky.

DR. MERYLEEN B. Smith reported she had made spot announcements on
radio station, WNRW, Narrows and Pearisburg, for American History
Month.

The quilt square requested from each chapter to be put into a quilt
from West Virginia was designed by Mrs. James White. It featured applique and
em­broidery of Peter's Mountain and val­ley, with grass and trees. The
handwork was done by Mrs. Oscar Spangler.

The chapter's entry in the national logo contest to depict energy
conserva­tion incorporating the principles of DAR was a sketch in pen and
ink done by Mrs. James White; A committee of Mrs. Katherine Carr, Mrs. B.A. Long
and Mrs. C.L. Spangler was appointed to select a caption for the
sketch.

Mrs. White made the following an­nouncements: Southern District
meet­ing will be at Fort Savannah Inn in Lewisburg June 20; Jackson's Mill
meeting, July 18 and 19, and the state conference at Sheraton Inn in Bluefield,
Oct. 29, 30 and 31. .